RT null
T1 Environmental Guidelines for the Direct Reduction Route to Steel Making
A1 United Nations Environment Programme, 
K1 mining
K1 iron ore
K1 air pollution
K1 water pollution
K1 noise control
K1 solid waste management
K1 health
K1 iron and steel industry
K1 environmental aspect
K1 steel
SN 92 807 1059 1
YR 1983
FD 1983
LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29043
UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29043
NO The electric arc furnace and the development of the mini-steel mill, along with direct reduction, has enabled countries to install for themselves steel making capacities for 60 to 70% of the capital cost required for an integrated steel works. Unlike the classical process which needs an annual production capacity of several million tons to be economically viable and competitive, a mini-steel mill can operate efficiently with a small scale as low as 5 t/hour, enabling flexibility. Furthermore, a direct reduction (IDR) plant has a much larger turn down ratio (i.e. the lowest proportion of the installed capacity at which an installation may continue to function in practice) than a blast furnace, although the specific energy consumption may rise.
DS UN Environment Document Repository
RD Sep 20, 2026